Rome: the Vatican

Day two in Rome, and it was time to explore some more of the city's history, but now we were moving along the timeline into the AD: we were going to explore the Vatican. We spent the first part of the morning working out the public transport system - bus tickets need to be purchased from tobacconists and validated on the bus - and traveling across the city to the other side of the Tiber river. 

The bus journey was an experience in itself. Since many of the roads in Rome are cobbled, and since the suspension of the local buses is rickety at best, we could feel our bones rattling throughout the journey. What's more, the unending stream of traffic and fearlessness of moped drivers meant that the bus was constantly screeching to a halt as it was undercut or caught in a traffic jam. By the time we arrived at the Vatican, my intestines seemed to have tied in a knot. 

Inside the Basilica

Outside the Basilica

Our first mission of the day was to explore St Peter's Basilica. We followed the trickle of tourists through the entrance, the security, and the metal detectors before arriving outside the famous Basilica. The square itself is stunning, ringed with white marble columns and watchful statues. The magnificence of the Basilica itself, however, can't really be put into words. Every inch of the towering walls is decorated with intricate paintings, polished gold, and lifelike statues. The many domes that compose the roof are golden, drawing more attention to the light that flows from windows, and the silence is broken only by the low chatter of tour guides and the sung sermons of priests. A few nuns move through the halls, and a few benches are occupied by visitors in prayer. The simultaneous opulence of the Basilica and piety of its inhabitants is spectacular, and it is clear why this space is valued as the seat of Catholicism, but also why the Vatican succeeded for centuries in projecting and retaining power over Europe and much of the world - and how this reputation still continues.

After a bite of lunch at a Panini cafe, we headed to the Vatican museums. Since there are 54 museums within the complex, we had no chance of seeing them all, but we were determined to see the top four: the art museum, the museum of statues, the museum of Egyptology, and the museum of cartography. 

We started with the art museum. Home to works by many key renaissance painters, including Da Vinci, these rooms were filled with artwork inspired by Christianity. Despite knowing very little about either art or Christianity, we still found them interesting. The gallery rooms were works of art in themselves - all of them had domed roofs which were decorated with patterns and gold paint. As a Greek myth nerd, my favourite section was definitely the museum of statues, but every room was filled with something to gawk at. The number of different artifacts crammed into the Vatican museums rivals the Louvre and the British Museum.

The Map Museum

Max loving the Museum

A Cool Statue

Before exiting the museums, visitors pass through the Sistine Chapel. As the Pope's private chapel, this was predictably gorgeous, having been decorated by Italy's great Renaissance artists including Botticelli and Michaelangelo. However, in comparison to St Peter's Basilica, it seemed much less awestriking 

After a snack in the Vatican gardens, we decided to head home. After waiting for a bus that never came, we decided to take the metro - a much better idea after all, as we avoided both the bone-rattling and the added 30-minute travel time. Arriving home at 5pm, we immediately collapsed on the bed. Our feet are starting to pay the toll for all of our exploring!